Does Caroline care about the welfare of New Yorkers?
Of course she does. In fact, strongly. But no more so than you and I. The difference however, we feel no “inherent” personal interest or rather “duty” to run. And the case being made here is that neither does she. However, her DNA is very different than you and I and why it drives her, rather implores her, to do what is required (by the family) rather than what she wants and more importantly what New York really needs.
The question for Gov. David Paterson then, “is acting as the enabler to preserve and perpetuate Kennedy legacy family tradition, or rather dynasty, more important than being the steward New York State needs to identifying and appointing the best Democratic senator choice for New Yorkers?”.
We’ll soon find out, smokescreen 28 page candidate civil service like questionnaire or not.
Will Governor Paterson do the right thing and pick the best candidate for New York…or succumb to hardball politics to pick “the” name? Will brand and celebrity win out over experience and skill?
Many would hope not and argue the latter. Even New York popular polls favor “experience”. But this is not an election. It’s a mid term political appointment determined by politicos, not citizen voters.
As but one example (among the ten or more other experienced candidates) however to make the “experience” argument, consider the (to date, stealthy) candidacy of Andrew Cuomo. With good legitimate political experience reasoning, he makes the point. A solid legal and political career evidence for example being a member of President Bill Clinton’s cabinet coupled with his admirable stint as New York Attorney General, position him to make a very strong “experience” case. He too has helped restore the credibility to the AG office following the scandalous actions of Elliot Spitzer, albeit Spitzer’s actions only catching up to him when Governor. Gov. Paterson even has a self serving motive in giving Cuomo the nod, as he takes out perhaps his strongest potential rival in the next NY State Governor election.
Of course there is the added intrigue of Cuomo being the former husband of Caroline Kennedy’s cousin Kerry. But while “experience” is sought, who ever said there should not be some spice in any political race.
Food for thought Gov. Paterson as your decision clock ticks towards late January.
Interestingly, one wonders how a man like the late Joe Kennedy Sr., who clearly viewed family leadership succession like kings of old, seeking to pass power onto the prince, would feel seeing the family leadership now being assumed by a princess and the family’s first Queen. Perhaps Caroline is stealing a chapter from Queen Elizabeth II’s book, and both her father King George VI and Joe Kennedy (formerly Ambassador to Britain) are hanging out in the “Afterlife Pub” with a pint of Courage, scratching their heads asking “why?”. But then again, maybe the two have come to the realization that family dynasty in perpetuity is more important than any legacy chauvinist attitudes, so maybe more of a modern “you go girl” attitude has seeped into their spiritual thinking.
So will Caroline soon wear the title of Senator Kennedy?
Only time will tell but the odds are yes, in one state or another. What is immediately certain however is that with her announcement to seek the Clinton senate set, she is now officially “Queen Caroline”, new ruler of the Kennedy Clan.
And likely New York, but with fallback Massachusetts, to take her Uncle’s senate seat. Either way she will wear both hats – Queen and Senator, as Ted fades to history and Caroline assumes the family throne.
In closing, as General Douglas McArthur retired from public life with his infamous “Duty, Honor, Country” decree, a parallel but slightly different twist here as Caroline Kennedy rides into public life on a mantra of “Duty, Honor, Kennedy”.
And that New Yorkers, should tell you where her real loyalty lies.
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